NEWS RELEASE OCTOBER 11, 1999

Rodney Hide’s response to Labour’s recent policy on gas powered cars was small minded, the Gas Transport Fuels Group said today.

“To suggest that supporting New Zealand’s gas transport fuels industry (LPG and CNG) equates to a return to carless days is just small minded politicking. It’s a typical MP trying to knock a political competitor while ignoring the bigger picture of what’s best for New Zealand industry,” a spokesman for the Group, Stephen Parker, said.

Mr Parker said Labour’s policy on buying gas vehicles for Government fleets is an opportunity for Government to work in partnership with industry to benefit New Zealand and New Zealanders.

“It’s a no cost option that will save the country millions of dollars a year, help to secure a New Zealand industry, provide jobs and give New Zealanders more choice, plus cheaper fuel.

“What’s so absurd about that? It’s a pity more politicians are not as keen to find ways to help New Zealand industry prosper.”

Mr Parker said most first world countries are developing huge gas vehicle fleets, and most leading car makers are now producing gas powered cars.

“Does Mr Hide think they are absurd as well?

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Issued on behalf of Gas Transport Fuels Group by Sigma Group (Wellington) Limited
(Daniel Paul), tel. (04) 4728-961.

For further information contact Stephen Parker, tel. (04) 472-5850.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>